The bid send-off came the same week it was confirmed Paisley Museum was in line for a £4.9m Heritage Lottery Fund grant, and on the same day the Paisley Community Trust unveiled their plans for a cinema and theatre complex in the town centre.

For Paisley, winning City of Culture 2021 would have come with even greater significance after the latest blow for Dundee.

The Tayside city’s hopes of competing for the European Capital of Culture 2023 – and a potential cash boost of millions in tourism revenue – were dashed last month after the city was barred from the title as a result of Brexit.

But it’s a town… did it even qualify?

The short answer is yes – the City of Culture award is open to large towns and urban areas.